Smart devices and other oddities that connect to the Internet—those which fall into the Internet-of-Things category of devices—are all over the place these days, be they inside our offices or our homes. Smart devices that connect to the Internet for various purposes should generally be approached with a minimum level of cautiousness, especially in today’s age of cyberattacks.
What Kind of Smart Devices Might You Have?
Since anything that connects to the Internet can technically be considered smart, in a sense, you’ll want to take into account your computers, tablets, smartphones, Internet routers, and other devices, even the ones you might not have thought about as smart. We’re talking about things like printers, security cameras, thermostats, smart speakers, and other similar devices that might be at risk of security threats.
Naturally, you want to protect these devices, but depending on what they are, their capacity for security updates might not be as great as you would like. While you could and should update devices whenever possible, we recommend that security measures for your smart devices start with the connection they utilize.
Set Up Your Wi-Fi Router Properly
Your router is going to be the first line of defense you have against threats on the Internet. If you have adequate router security, it makes keeping your devices safe that much easier. One of the easiest things you can do to improve your router’s security is to simply change the default name it comes with. Normally it will include the brand and model, both of which give hackers ideas for what the default password or its default configurations might be. You should also use a complex password and the highest level of encryption possible on the device.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication
If you want to maximize security on any infrastructure or account, multi-factor authentication is a must. A password is just not enough to keep hackers out these days, as they can often be guessed or abused. We recommend that your multi-factor authentication method include something you know (a password), something you are (a biometric of some sort), or something you have (a device or other account).
Use a Separate Wi-Fi Connection for IoT Devices
If security is one of your major concerns (and it should be) for IoT devices, then you could simply create a separate network for all of your IoT devices. This limits exposure of your primary network to these threats without compromising your ability to use them.
Business Solutions & Software Group can help your company keep itself safe on multiple levels. To learn what we can do for your business, contact us at (954) 575-3992.
